DNA Damage Response in the Adaptive Arm of the Immune System: Implications for Autoimmunity

In complex environments, cells have developed molecular responses to confront threats against the genome and achieve the maintenance of genomic stability assuring the transfer of undamaged DNA to their progeny. DNA damage response (DDR) mechanisms may be activated upon genotoxic or environmental agents, such as cytotoxic drugs or ultraviolet (UV) light, and during physiological processes requiring DNA transactions, to restore DNA alterations that may cause cellular malfunction and affect viability. In addition to the DDR, multicellular organisms have evolved specialized immune cells to respond and defend against infections. Both adaptive and innate immune cells are subjected to DDR processes, either as a prerequisite to the immune response, or as a result of random endogenous and exogenous insults. Aberrant DDR activities have been extensively studied in the immune cells of the innate arm, but not in adaptive immune cells. Here, we discuss how the aberrant DDR may lead to autoimmunity, with emphasis on the adaptive immune cells and the potential of therapeutic targeting.